According to the official, the search warrants were issued by Honorable Ramon D. Pamular, Executive Judge, Branch 32, Guimba, Nueva Ecija that resulted to the arrest and the confiscation of gadgets. The raiding was led by PSUPT DARWIN S MIRANDA, Chief, Cyber Response Unit of PNP ACG.

We have been monitoring the computer center in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija involved in sextortion activities, said Acabado. The raid was part of the STRIKEBACK 3 targeting sextortion syndicates in the country, he further said.

Based on the report provided by the INTERPOL, the Philippines is one of the three countries that have the highest sextortion syndicates. In our records, on 2015, we received a total of 57 complaints for sextortion and most victims are foreign nationals, said Acabado.

There are computer centers that are operating as call centers but their operation is blackmailing their victims when they recorded their nude photographs and videos through Skype, according to Acabado.

The implementation of the search warrant was done on July 29, 2016, at about 12:00 midnight on two different locations witnessed by barangay officials of Barangay, Santo Rosario, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija.

We will file cases for Violations of Section 4(c)(1) (Cybersex) of R.A. 10175,otherwise known as “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” and Sections 11 and Section 15 of R.A. 9165 “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” against the arrested employees and owners of the computer centers, Acabado said.